Residents on city's sinkhole street voice concerns

Sinkhole opened July 25; Crews still repairing it

Those who live on or own a business in the 2300 block of East Monument Street in Baltimore got a chance to voice their concerns Wednesday night over a huge sinkhole that's been causing headaches in the area for two months.

The sinkhole was discovered July 25, and crews are still working to repair it. The dull, constant sound of construction noise has punctuated the atmosphere on that block for two months.

"This block is atrocious because (the stores) can't open," said neighbor Warren Street.

First there was the sinkhole, then a water main break within the sinkhole, and then the sinkhole reopened and widened.

"It's hurting us. It's been too long -- this has been too long. Houses are shaking, and the power went out on Sunday," said Harry Wallace, who works on the block.

A meeting with Department of Public Works officials Wednesday night gave community members a chance to voice their concerns.

"My house vibrated from 8 p.m. one night until 7 a.m. the next morning," one resident said.

Many said the sinkhole repair process has caused structural damage to their buildings.

"They have cracks in their foundation, broken windows. Some people showed us where their mirrors actually fell off the walls inside their houses," said Glenn Ross, of the neighborhood association.

"We actually have vibration monitors stationed along the Monument Street corridor, so we were actually able to monitor how strong the vibrations from the sheet piling were, and they never rose to a level of our concern. So, as far as we know, there has not been any structural damage," said DPW Communications spokeswoman Shonte Eldridge.

DPW officials are pointing concerned residents to the city's Legal Department and said they're working to get experts out to survey properties. Those with concerns can call the Legal Department at 410-396-3400.

Meanwhile, DPW officials said they've secured the sinkhole and have started to repair the 120-foot storm drain. Weather permitting, they said they expect to be done by Nov. 5.

"We're not just piecemealing it and doing a patch repair. We can't say this won't happen again, but we're trying to decrease the likelihood that it will," Eldridge said.